BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION BEFORE GOING TO MY RANTINGS...

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines that wants to have their own autonomous Moro Islamic state. Since the 1970's, they've fought for what they believed to be is a land that is rightfully theirs -- the island of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines.

Lately, political tension arose in the country over the sudden undisclosed(the secret was leaked apparently) deal between the Philippine government and the MILF that will have granted the MILF their very own autonomous Moro "state" -- the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. The outcry of the people, especially from Mindanao, was more on the fact that they were not informed of the matter and was not consulted nor a plebiscite was held if they, the people, would want to join in it or not. It is undemocratic, and unconstitutional.

Because of all that happened, the Philippine Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order to halt the signing of the deal, so that the disputed deal can be investigated.

The people of Mindanao can now breathe a sigh of relief over the matter, as they await the Supreme Courts' decision.

Or so they thought.

Today, many areas in Mindanao which includes my hometown Iligan City, was attacked by the MILF, which started at dawn. Obviously, they did not like the delay over the signing of the unconstitutional deal. They ambushed military people, burned civilian houses and churches, bombed establishments in my hometown, and used civilians as human shields, and some of whom where kidnapped and killed!

My worse fear is coming true.

The war in Mindanao is now in the place I was born and raised in.

We immediately contacted our family, friends, and relatives there. And true enough, the city is in a state of calamity. All the family are huddled together in my grandmother's house, and they're calling the other relatives to come over to hide there. My brother's family is also packing their things to evacuate their area.

I knew this was gonna happen when the Supreme Court derailed the signing of the deal. The MILF are of course terrorists first and foremost. There now, yes I'm not the most politically correct person in the world, but that is what they are. When they don't get their way, they inflict terror. They do not care whether you're a civilian or not. They are akin to spoiled brats who throw tantrums if they do not get what they want. Except that, unlike brats, they have guns.

The upper heirachy of the MILF explained that the ones causing the trouble are "lost command" MILF groups, and that they have no control over them.

That's just terrible, and a cause for fear. And it's ONE GOOD REASON to scrap their deal in the first place.

Cause if they can't control their own people, who's to guarantee that they can control them if the deal is pushed through?

The government shouldn't have made deals with terrorists. Because when you make deals with them, terror is exactly what you will get.

Meanwhile, all I can do now is to pray and hope that nothing bad will happen to my loved ones over there.

Feeling helpless sucks!


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Before people will interpret this entry as anti-Muslim, I just want to make it clear that I have nothing against our Muslim brothers and sisters. I was born and raised in Mindanao, and I have awesome Muslim friends. Two of my best friends in highschool are Muslims. They're amazing people, and I love them very much.

Muslims and Christians have lived peacefully side by side in Iligan since it became a city in the 1950s. It's just too bad that a few people, Muslims at that, would tarnish their own name.

I dont think this is a religious matter. It never was. 

It's all political. The MILF want power and a separate "state" for themselves. 


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Now, I can't concentrate coloring a Secret Invasion tie-in book.